Free next of kin tracing service to tackle issue of people outliving their immediate relations

Providing a free next of kin tracing service for care and nursing homes, Finders International are aiming to tackle the two percent of over 65s who die without any family.

Research by Sheffield Hallam University has shown that two percent of over 65s die without any family and by 2030, two million people will be over 65 without adult children.

Probate genealogists Finders International are hoping to tackle this issue by providing a free next of kin tracing service to nursing homes, care and residential homes as well as NHS Trusts when a resident or inpatient dies and there is no known next of kin.

The recent case of 104-year-old Daisy Staines, who died in a care home in Essex and had no known next of kin to attend her funeral, is the latest in a growing number of people who die without any known living relatives.

In Daisy’s case, an appeal by the care home to find relatives resulted in Finders International stepping in to identify relatives in time to attend her funeral.

Finders International also worked on the case of World War Two veteran James Knowles, 91, who passed away at Eastbourne District General Hospital in 2017, where the team successfully located relatives of James.

In both cases, the next of kin of the deceased were located within a 48-hour period.

Danny Curran, Founder of Finders International, said: “We have worked on numerous cases for Trusts and nursing homes wishing to establish if there are any next of kin.

“The main advice when someone dies in care or a hospital with no known next of kin is firstly to search personal belongings, to look for a will or any documentation, check medical records, admission documentation and speak to friends of the deceased, where appropriate, to enquire about next of kin.

“If none of this bears fruit, it is worth contacting a professional probate genealogist firm, who can, in most cases, locate next of kin relatively quickly.”

Established in 1997, Finders International works with people who require help or assistance in tracing missing or unknown heirs, or the next of kin to a deceased person.